Please note: the sessions below may be marked as ‘full’ when you register but stand-by places are usually available – just stand outside the relevant room on the day to make use of the free spaces!

Hosted by award-winning science communicator, Dr Heather Reid, the action starts at 09.30 on Thursday 20th September in the Lomond Auditorium, and the programme is as follows:

09.30 – 10.15:‘Making Scotland a STEM Nation’

Hear the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Mr Richard Lochhead MSP, set out the Scottish Government’s vision for STEM and the ambitious plans in the national STEM Education and Training Strategy published last year.

You’ll also hear from three inspiring young people who’ll share their STEM experiences with you.

10.45 – 11.30: STEM Expo – Part One

Get STEM-inspired! Take part in our wide range of STEM demonstration sessions; hosted and delivered by children, young people, practitioners and experts from across Scotland. In a first for this festival, these sessions are packed full of practical ideas to inspire and motivate STEM learning across early years, primary, secondary and community learning settings.

How do we improve, increase and widen engagement with STEM – particularly once learners leave formal education? Join Professor Louise Archer from University College London to hear more about an exciting ‘science capital’ approach which is having a significant impact on young people’s understanding of and engagement with STEM.

13.15 – 14.00: STEM Expo – Part Two

If you enjoyed Part One, then be sure to come along to Part Two to take part in even more interactive demonstration sessions from another selection of inspirational children, young people, practitioners and experts from across Scotland.

14.30 – 15.15: ‘The Art of Science Communication’

Join Dr Jamie Gallagher – scientist, science communicator and salsa dance teacher – as he explores how to make STEM subjects memorable, exciting and accessible for all. Discover how fusing STEM with storytelling, art and dance can empower everyone – including even the most STEM-phobic learners and practitioners! – to connect with STEM in new and interesting ways.

15.15: Closing remarks

STEM Live! 2018 will be brought to a close by Gayle Gorman, the CEO of Education Scotland.

Click here to find out all you need to know about STEM Live! and the 2018 Scottish Learning Festival.

The STEM Insight programme offers staff in schools and colleges a unique chance to experience STEM-related work in industrial settings.

You will be able to participate in a placement with an employer, be supported by face-to-face and online CPD from STEM Learning and SSERC, and learn more about diverse career paths and opportunities for your students.

If you are from a local authority school or college you will receive generous financial support to cover the cost of participating in the programme from Project ENTHUSE. The fee for participating in the STEM Insight programme is £283+VAT, with a £1450 bursary for a ten day placement and a £800 bursary for a five day placement.

We have a few places available on a SSERC/RSC professional development course on 14th February 2017 at Garnock Community Campus, North Ayrshire (KA14 3BF). The funding for the course is such that the course fee for the day is £200 per participant to cover the full cost of the course including course materials, teas/coffee and lunch. Each participant will receive a voucher with a value of £140 of resources which can be used against purchases from Scientific and Chemical.

Additionally, each participant from a local authority school or FE college can apply for an ENTHUSE Award from the National STEM Learning Centre – such applications must be made in advance of the course start date (details of how to apply will be sent to successful applicants). ENTHUSE Awards will be paid to the school/college several weeks after completion of the course; the value of the ENTHUSE Award will be £200.

The closing date for applications to attend SSERC’s 2-part residential course for Probationer teachers is Friday November 25th. Through this programme, with practical work at its core, we focus on enhancing the range of activities which participants will be able to use to support Curriculum for Excellence in their classrooms. More than half of the practical elements of the course will be devoted to subjects outside participants’ own area of expertise. More details available from the SSERC website.

Stuart Naylor, one of the principal authors of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2, is due to deliver this ‘twilight’ professional development session. Aimed at learners in the age range 10-16, this new resource for Chemistry, Biology and Physics covers topics including earth and space, living things and their environments, physical and chemical changes.

Concept Cartoons are designed to introduce science concepts in everyday settings. Each character has a different opinion about science being discussed. All of the possible answers are plausible and highlight common learner misconceptions. Learners are invited to join in with the discussion happening in the science Concept Cartoon.

The book and CD of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2 both contain 156 Concept Cartoons covering the main areas of science. Background text, written in pupil-friendly language, is available for each Concept Cartoon. A blank speech bubble on each Science Concept Cartoon encourages learners to add additional ideas.

Fee: The fee for the course is £135 to include a copy of the book and CD of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2 as well as a site license meaning that all teachers can use the resource in their teaching. Light refreshments will be provided on arrival.

SSERC’s popular Primary Science & Technology Bulletin and SSERC Bulletin are available to download for all members from the SSERC website. All Local Authority school and college teachers and technicians are automatically members of SSERC. The majority of Independent schools are too.

If you’ve yet to register for membership or forgotten your login details contact STS@sserc.org.uk to create or reactivate your account.

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and creative individual to join the SSERC team which is dedicated to building capacity in Scotland for high quality CPD for science teachers and technical support staff. In addition to proven subject expertise, you must have an appropriate mix of practical, science, technology and ICT skills to contribute to a flexible technical support service across the sciences and technology, with a high regard to Health and Safety.

You should hold an SCQF level 5 qualifications in a relevant subjects and previous experience in a similar post is essential.

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and creative individual to join the SSERC team which is dedicated to building capacity in Scotland for high quality CPD for science teachers and technical support staff. In addition to proven subject expertise, you must have an appropriate mix of practical, science, technology and ICT skills to contribute to a flexible technical support service across the sciences and technology, with a high regard to Health and Safety.

You should hold an HNC or equivalent level qualification in a relevant subject and previous experience in a similar post is essential.

SSERC is still taking applications for places on Leading for Excellence in Science course. The course carries full accreditation by the General Teaching Council for Scotland under its Professional Recognition scheme.

Our delegates will be those who have, or aspire to have, responsibility for leading science education in their establishments. Although some leadership skills are generic, there are aspects of science education which require specific leadership skills and have particular management responsibilities. These particular responsibilities, as well as wider leadership issues, will be considered in science specific contexts.

Coverage will include:

Curriculum and course development issues with particular reference to CfE

Areas for development identified in HMIe report Science: A portrait of current practice in Scottish Schools and The Sciences 3-18 Impact Report, 2012

Improving learning and teaching through self-evaluation

Approaches to managing science health and safety issues

Science departmental/faculty issues and policies

Leading teams and managing change

For those teaching in local authority schools or colleges funding of £1080 from the National STEM Learning Centre is available to offset the course fee (£850)